The meaning of the signs on the car dashboard: appearance and interpretation
Content
The red color of the icons on the car panel is always an alarm. Seeing it, it is necessary to stop the movement and take immediate measures, otherwise a serious breakdown or accident is possible.
Once behind the wheel of an unfamiliar car, the driver often finds icons on the car panel, the designation of which is not clear to him. The total number of characters that can be found reaches two hundred. Let's try to figure them out.
What are the icons and what do they signal
Any car is a complex technical device consisting of many systems. Most of them somehow require feedback from the driver, for which they have indicators.
Today, technology has become more complex. Electronic control is becoming commonplace. Dozens of sensors transmit signals to the on-board computer. In the era of analog electrical systems, auto designers allowed themselves to build a maximum of a dozen lamps into the dashboard so as not to turn it into a kind of aircraft cockpit. In the digital generation, the panel of any modern car can hold up to several dozen different icons.
The most common icons on the dashboard of a car are shown in the diagram.
Major Fault Indicators
Here is a basic set of systems that are on most machines.
Deciphering dashboard indicators
There are car factories in dozens of states on the planet. Although there is no single strict standard for marking information inscriptions and signs, manufacturers try to make them as uniform as possible. This helps to understand the meaning of the signs on the dashboard of a car, even a Japanese car, without looking into the instruction manual.
Car dashboard indicators
If the designation of the signs on the panel in the car remains unclear, the color of the symbol helps to draw some conclusions. After all, not every indicator burning before your eyes indicates a serious breakdown. Most are precautionary. They simply show that some system is on and working properly.
Red indicators
The red color of the icons on the car panel is always an alarm. Seeing it, it is necessary to stop the movement and take immediate measures, otherwise a serious breakdown or accident is possible.
All red icons can be roughly divided into two categories:
- critical malfunctions, until the elimination of which it is forbidden to go further;
- important information for the driver that requires urgent intervention, but does not lead to repair.
The second group includes red icons on the car panel, indicating a significant problem that needs to be fixed before driving further:
- No. 30 (gas station symbol) - the fuel level is below the reserve mark;
- No. 47 - the hood of the car is open;
- No. 64 - the trunk lid is not closed;
- No. 28 - the salon doors are not closed;
- No. 21 - seat belts are not fastened;
- No. 37 (letter P in a circle) - the parking brake is applied.
Other red symbols light up on the instrument panel if the machine is equipped with the appropriate system or sensor. This is a dangerous decrease in the distance on the road (No. 49), air suspension failure (No. 54), steering column lock (No. 56), an electronic key is required (No. 11), and some others.
Yellow indicators
Yellow or orange (less often white) color has a designation of icons on the car panel of a warning nature. These signals do not require the driver to immediately stop driving and correct the cause, but indicate the presence of some kind of problem.
Also, such a light indication is applied to buttons or keys to indicate that they are operating. There are more yellow symbols than others due to the variety of devices equipped with an indication.Here are just the most common of them (they are also found on domestic cars):
- No. 5 - front fog lights are on;
- No. 8 - rear fog lights are on;
- No. 57 - the rear window heater is working;
- No. 19 (exclamation mark inside the gear) - there are problems in the gearbox;
- No. 20 - tire pressure is less than normal.
Check engine indicator
Separately, there is a yellow badge No. 59, which conditionally depicts the contours of the motor. Sometimes the inscription CHECK is applied to it or the letter designation CHECK ENGINE is used. This is a malfunction signal from the electronic engine management system (on-board computer). Warns that there are problems, the engine is operating in a non-optimal mode (less power, more fuel consumption). Service diagnostic required.
Green and blue indicators
The meaning of the icons on the dashboard of the car, which are lit in green or blue, is to confirm the normal regular operation of the systems. Seeing them, you can confidently go further:
- No. 7 - low beam headlights are on;
- No. 4 - high beam mode;
- No. 15 (bulb) - "dimensions".
Other signals depend on the equipment of the machine.
Major Fault Indicators
The icons on the panel on the machine, reporting the most dangerous breakdown, are always red. If you see them burning, you should immediately stop and turn off the engine, as further operation of the car is not recommended.
These messages include:
- No. 63 (resembles a kettle with a spout to the right) - a dangerous decrease in oil pressure in the engine due to a decrease in its level or a breakdown in the lubrication system;
- No. 1 (a rectangle with a plus and a minus representing a battery) - there is no battery charge due to a breakdown in the generator, the battery itself or the machine's electrical network;
- No. 18 (circle with an exclamation mark inside, covered with arcs from the sides) - brake malfunction or low brake fluid;
- No. 43 (symbol of a thermometer immersed in water) - overheating of the coolant, the engine temperature has risen dangerously.
What is the difference between the icons on a diesel car from a gasoline one
The icons on the instrument panel of a car with a diesel engine, due to the specifics of its device, will turn out to be special.
Indicators on the dashboard of a diesel car
The engines of these cars are equipped with glow plugs that are responsible for cold starting. The combustion products of diesel fuel need to be further refined to meet stringent environmental regulations. Therefore, the exhaust tract device on them differs from gasoline cars in additional filters and catalysts.
Icons warning about the inclusion of these units and problems in operation:
- No. 40 (white or yellow spiral) - glow plugs work;
- No. 2 (rectangle with dots inside) - indicator of pollution of the particulate filter;
- No. 26 (drop in the pipe) - the fuel system needs to be cleaned of water.
The main set of other indicators in cars running on gasoline or diesel fuel does not differ.
